Portable blind

ABSTRACT

A portable blind is disclosed generally comprising a collapsible frame means having a folding seat provided therein to accommodate the hunter in a sitting position. The lower portion of the frame means is covered with a camouflage material while the upper portion of the frame means is covered with a net-like material which permits the hunter to see therethrough. The lower camouflage material comprises a pair of front flap members which have registering grommets. The net-like material includes a moveable top portion having elastic means thereon for moving the top portion from a closed position to an open position to enable the hunter to stand up in the blind for shooting purposes. An arcuate hook element is mounted on the lower forward end of the top portion of the net-like material and is extended through the registering grommets for selectively maintaining the blind in a closed position. The hunter may open the blind by simply moving the hook out of engagement with the registering grommets which causes the front flap members to partially open and which permits the top portion to move to its open position. The frame means and the camouflage material thereon may be folded to a substantially flat position for carrying purposes.

United States Patent 1191 Smutny et al.

[ PORTABLE BLIND [76] Inventors: Frank D. Smutny, 206 S.

Wainswright; Maurice M. Hassenplug, 1723 N. Park, both of Grand Island,Nebr. 68801 [22] Filed: Aug. 30, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 285,028

Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-Daniel J. LeachAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Zarley, McKee & Thomte 1451 Mar. 26, 1974 [5 7]ABSTRACT A portable blind is disclosed generally comprising acollapsible frame means having a folding seat provided therein toaccommodate the hunter in a sitting position. The lower portion oftheframe means is covered with a camouflage material while the upperportion of the frame means is covered with a net-like material whichpermits the hunter to see therethrough. The lower camouflage materialcomprises a pair of front flap members which have registering grommets.The net-like material includes a moveable top portion having elasticmeans thereon for moving the top portion from a closed position to anopen position to enable the hunter to stand up in the blind for shootingpurposes. An arcuate hook element is mounted on the lower forward end ofthe top portion of the net-like material and is extended through theregistering grommets for selectively maintaining the blind in a closedposition. The hunter may open the blind by simply moving the hook out ofengagement with the registering grommets which causes the front flapmembers to partially open and which permits the top portion to move toits open position. The frame means and the camouflage material thereonmay be folded to a substantially flat position for carrying purposes.

10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PORTABLE BLIND A principal object of thisinvention is to provide a portable blind.

A further object of this invention is to provide a portable blind whichmay be easily folded and carried by the hunter from one place toanother.

A further object of this invention is to provide a portable blind havinga folding seat provided therein.

A further object of this invention is to provide a portable blind havinga quick release means provided thereon for quickly opening the blind topermit the hunter to shoot.

A further object of this invention is to provide a portable blind whichaffords the hunter good visibility.

A further object of this invention is to provide a portable blind whichis lightweight.

A further object of this invention is to provide a portable blind whichis easily assembled.

A further object of this invention is to provide a portable blind whichwill be very stable when in its assembled condition.

A further object of this invention is to provide a portable blind whichis economical in manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and.combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objectscontemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth,specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the blind of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the blind;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view as seen along lines 33 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view similar to FIG. 1 ex cept that theblind is illustrated in its open position;

.FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating the frame of the blind in acollapsed position;

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the frame of the I blind; 6

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view illustrating the manner in whichthe portion of the frame is joined; and

The numeral 10 generally designates the portable blind of this inventionwhich generally comprises a foldable or collapsible frame means 12having camouflage material 14 thereon. Frame means 12 comprises aU-shaped bottom frame member 16 having side frame portions 18, 20 andfront frame portion 22. A rear frame member 24 is pivotally secured atits ends to the ends of bottom frame member 16 as seen in FIG. 6 and inFIG. 7. A U-shaped back frame member 26 is provided and comprises sideframe portions 28, and top frame portion 32. The lower ends of sideframe portions 28 and 30 are pivotally connected to the rearward ends offrame portions 18 and 20, respectively.

Brace 34 is secured to side frame portions 28 and 30 and extendstherebetween above the lower ends thereof. U-shaped frame member 36 ispivoted at its ends to frame-member 24 as also seen in FIG. 6. Flexiblematerial, such as canvas or the like, is secured at its ends to brace 34and frame member 36 (FIG. 6) to form a folding seat 38. Flexiblematerial, such as canvas or the like, is secured at its ends to frameportions 28 and 30 (FIG. 6) to form a back rest 40 for the seat 38.

Frame members 42 and 44 are pivoted at their lower ends to frameportions 18 and 20 respectively. Frame members 46 and 48 are pivoted attheir upper ends to frame portions 28 and 30 respectively. For purposesof description, frame member 46 will be described as comprising a topportion 50 and front portion 52 while frame member 48 will be describedas comprising a top portion 54 and front portion 56.

A slide member 58 is secured at its upper end to the upper end of theframe portion'28 and is secured at its lower end to front portion 52 at60. Likewise, slide member 62.is secured at its upper end to frameportion 30 and is secured at its lower end to front portion 56 at 64.'Asseen in FIG. 6, the slide members are spaced from the frame members 46and 48. For purposes of description, slide member 58 will be describedas comprising a top portion 66 and a front portion 68 while slide member62 will be described as comprising a top portion 70 and a front portion72.

Camouflage material 14 generally comprises a clothtype camouflagematerial which extends around the lower end of the frame means 12 asillustrated in FIG. 1 and also comprising a net-like material 94 at theupper end of the frame means. For purposes of descrip tion, material 74will be described as comprising a back portion 76, side portions 78 and80, and front flap portions 82 and 84. The lower ends of back portion76, side portions .78 and 80, and front flap portions 82and 84 aresecured to the frame means by rope 86 or the like as illustrated in FIG.2. The lower inner ends of front flap portions 78 and are joined by rope86 as illustrated in FIG. 4. A suitable fastening means 88 is providedon the inner edges of front flap portions 82 and 84 for detachablyjoining the same as seen in FIGS. 1 and 4. The fastening means 88 ispreferably comprised of Velcro or the like. The upper inner ends offront flap portions 82 and 84 have grommets 90 and 92 provided thereonrespectively which may be placed in a registering position as seen inFIG. 3.

As previously stated, the numeral 94 refers to a netlike material whichis secured to the upper end of material 74 and which extends over theupper end of the frame means as seen in FIG. 1. The material 94 isdesigned to permit the hunter to see therethrough while still beingcamouflaged from the game. For purposes of description, material 94 willbe described as comprising side portions 96 and 98, back portion 100 andtop portion 102.

Top portion 102 has a plurality of bars 104 secured thereto which extendthereacross as seen in FIG. 3. The ends of the bars 104 have eyes 106secured thereto which are slidably mounted on the slide members 58 and62. An elongated strip of elastic 110 is secured to top portion 102adjacent each of its sides and extends between the top frame portion 32and the forwardmost bar 104 to yieldably resist the closing movement ofthe top portion 102.

An arcuate hook 112 is secured to the forwardmost bar 1046 16. 3) and isadapted to have its arcuate free end extended through the registeringgrommets 90 and '92 at ti m es. In such a position, the hook 112maintains the front flap portions 82 and 84 in a closed position andmaintains the top portion 102 in the closed position of FIG. 3. A simplepull on the hook 112 causes the arcuate free end thereof to disengagefrom the grommets 90 and 92. When the hook 112 is disengaged from thegrommets 90 and 92, the elastic strips 110 cause the top portion 102tomove upwardly and rearwardly on the slide members 58 and 62 to theposition of FIG. 4. The upper ends of front flap portions 82 and 84 alsoseparate to give additional maneuvering room to the hunter.

As illustrated in- FIG. 6, frame member 42 is comprised of two separateframe members, the ends of which are detachably joined by a sleeve orcollar 114. Likewise, a sleeve or collar 116 is provided on the framemember 44. The camouflage material 14 is provided with a pair of cut-outportions 118 and 120 to provide access to the sleeves 114 and 116.

Assuming that the portable blind is in its folded position, thenormalmethod of assembly is as follows. The rear frame member 24 is pivotallymoved upwardly to a vertical position. The frame member 42 is thenpivotally moved so that its ends are in registering alignment. When theends.of frame member 42 are in alignment, the sleeve 1 14 is slidablymoved thereover which maintains the frame member 42 in the positionillustrated in FIG. 6. Frame member 44 is pivotally moved so that itsends are in an aligned relationship to permit the sleeve 116 to beslidably moved thereover to maintain the frame member 44 in the positionof FIG. 6.

The hunter may then enter the interior of the blind between the frontflap portions 82 and 84. The front flap portions 82 and 84 would then bepartially closed through the use of the fastening means 88. The hunterwould then unfold the seat and sit thereon as illustrated in FIG. 2. Thehunter then pulls the top portion 102 from the position illustrated bybroken lines in FIG. 2 to the position illustrated in FIG. 3 against theresiliency or elasticity of the strips 110. The upper ends of the frontflap portions 82 and 84 are overlapped so that the grommets 90 and 92are in their registering positions. The hook 112 is then extendedthrough the registering grommets 90 and 92. With the hook 112 receivedby the grommets 90 and 92, the upper end of the front flap portions 82and 84 are closed and the top portion 102 is also maintained in itsclosed position.

The hunter can readily observe the movement of game through the material94. When the hunter desires to shoot, he simply pulls on the hook 112 tocause the hook 112 to disengage from the grommets 90 and 92 which causesthe top portion 102 to slidably move upwardly and rearwardly on theslide members 58 and 62 to the open position. The upper inner ends ofthe front flap portions 82 and 84 also partially separate to providesufficient maneuvering room to the hunter. The hunter may then stand andshoot in the fashion illustrated in FIG. 4.

The hook 112 provides a quick release means for the blind which permitsthe hunter to quickly get into position to shoot the game. In theposition of FIG. 1, the hunter is well camouflaged and can readilyobserve the movement of game. The blind may be opened from the positionof FIG. 1 to the position of FIG. 4 in a rapid manner to enable thehunter to shoot at the game without delay.

. The blind may be folded from the assembled position of FIG. 1 to afolded position by simply reversing the procedure outlined above. It isnot necessary to remove the camouflage material from the frame meansduring the folding or unfolding operation. The hunter may easily carrythe folded blind to his automobile or to another hunting location.

It should be understood that the blind will work adequately without thecamouflage material 74 thereon since reeds, weeds, etc., may be used fornatural camouflage. The relationship of the seat with the respect to theblind is quite important in that it will enable the hunter to becompletely positioned within the frame means and also enables the hunterto suspend his posterior above the wet and marshy conditions ordinarilyfound in most hunting locations.

Thus it can be seen that a very novel portable blind has been disclosedherein which accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

We claim:

1. A portable blind comprising,

a collapsible frame means comprising first and second normallyhorizontally spaced apart frames, support means secured to and extendingbetween said first and second frames to maintain said frames in theirspaced apart relationship,

means on said frame means for supporting blind material thereon,

said frames being movable from a normally assembled position to a foldedposition, said frames being sufficiently spaced apart to permit a personto position himself therebetween when said frames are in their assembledposition,

each of said frames comprising a bottom frame member having oppositeends, a normally upstanding back frame member pivotally connected at itslower end to one end of each bottom frame member, an inclined frontframe member having upper and lower ends and being pivotally connectedat its upper end to the upper end of said back frame member andpivotally connected at its lower end to the other end of said bottomframe member,

a foldable seat secured to said back frame members and positionedtherebetween,

and an elongated flexible member secured to and extending between saidback frame members to provide a back rest for said foldable seat.

2. A portable blind comprising,

a collapsible frame means comprising first and second normallyhorizontally spaced apart frames, support means secured to and extendingbetween said first and second frames to maintain said frames in theirspaced apart relationship,

means on said frame means for supporting blind material thereon,

said frames being movable from a normally assembled position to a foldedposition, said frames being insufficiently spaced apart to permit aperson to position himself therebetween when said frames are in theirassembled position,

said blind material comprising flexible material secured to said framemeans, said flexible material and said frame means defining closed backand opposite side portions and a closable front and top portion.

3. The portable blind of claim 2 wherein said closable front and topportions have quick releasable means thereon for quickly opening saidtop portion and at least a portion of said front portion.

4. A portable blind comprising,

a frame means comprising first and second normally horizontally spacedapart frames,

blind material on said frame means defining opposite side blindportions, a back blind portion and a front blind portion, said frontblind portion being selectively closable to permit ingress into andegress out of said blind,

means on said front blind portion for quickly opening at least a portionof said front blind portion to permit the hunter to shoot from theblind,

said front blind portion comprising a pair of closable flap members atits lower end and a slidable top portion slidably mounted on said framemeans and moveable between closed and opened positions on said framemeans.

5. The portable blind of claim 4 wherein said slidable top portion hasresilient means secured thereto which yieldably resists the closing ofsaid top portion and which causes said top portion to quickly move toits open position at times.

6. The portable blind of claim 5 wherein the upper ends of said closableflap members have registering grommets provided thereon, an arcuate hookmeans on said top portions adapted to be connected to said 'grommets,the engagement of said hook means with said grommets maintaining saidflap members and said top portion in their closed position.

7. A portable blind comprising,

a frame means comprising first and second normally horizontally spacedapart frames,

blind material on said frame means defining opposite side blindportions, a back blind portion and a front blindtportion,

means on said front blind portion for quickly opening at least a portionof said front blind portion to permit the hunter to shoot from theblind,

said front blind portion comprising a slidable top portion slidablymounted on said frame means and moveable between closed and openedpositions on said frame means,

said slidable top portion having resilient means secured thereto whichcauses said top portion to quickly move to its open position.

8. A portable blind comprising,

a collapsible frame means comprising first and second normallyhorizontally spaced apart frames, support means secured to and extendingbetween said first and second frames to maintain said frames in theirspaced apart relationship, means on said frame means for supportingblind material thereon, a said frames being movable from a normallyassembled position to a folded position, said frames being sufficientlyspaced apart to permit a person to position himself therebetween whensaid frames are in their assembled position, i said frames having avertical height greater than the height of a person in a sittingposition, each of said frames comprising a bottom frame member havingopposite ends, a normally upstanding back frame member pivotallyconnected at its lower end to one end of each bottom frame member, aninclined front frame member having upper and lower ends;

each of said inclined front frame members comprising upper and lowerframe member portions, said upper frame member portions being pivotallyconnected at their upper ends to the upper end of said back framemember, said lower frame member portions being pivotally connected attheir lower ends to the other end of said bottom frame member, and meansselectively connecting the upper ends of said lower frame memberportions to the lower ends of said upper frame member portions tomaintain the same in substantial alignment when said frames are in theirassembled position.

9. The portable blind of claim 8 wherein said means selectivelyconnecting the upper ends of said lower frame members portions to thelower ends of said upper frame members portions comprises a sleeve meansslidably mounted thereon and extending therebetween.

10. The portable blind of claim 8 wherein a foldable seat is secured tosaid back frame members and is positioned therebetween, said foldableseat comprising a first support member secured to and extending betweensaid back frame members above the lower ends thereof; a U-shaped supportmember pivotally operatively connected at its ends to the lower ends ofsaid back frame members; and a flexible member secured to said firstsupport member and said Ushaped support member and extendingtherebetween.

1. A portable blind comprising, a collapsible frame means comprisingfirst and second normally horizontally spaced apart frames, supportmeans secured to and extending between said first and second frames tomaintain said frames in their spaced apart relationship, means on saidframe means for supporting blind material thereon, said frames beingmovable from a normally assembled position to a folded position, saidframes being sufficiently spaced apart to permit a person to positionhimself therebetween when said frames are in their assembled position,each of said frames comprising a bottom frame member having oppositeends, a normally upstanding back frame member pivotally connected at itslower end to one end of each bottom frame member, an inclined frontframe member having upper and lower ends and being pivotally connectedat its upper end to the upper end of said back frame member andpivotally connected at its lower end to the other end of said bottomframe member, a foldable seat secured to said back frame members andpositioned therebetween, and an elongated flexible member secured to andextending between said back frame members to provide a back rest forsaid foldable seat.
 2. A portable blind comprising, a collapsible framemeans comprising first and second normally horizontally spaced apartframes, support means secured to and extending between said first andsecond frames to maintain said frames in their spaced apartrelationship, means on said frame means for supporting blind materialthereon, said frames being movable from a normally assembled position toa folded position, said frames being insufficiently spaced apart topermit a person to position himself therebetween when said frames are intheir assembled position, said blind material comprising flexiblematerial secured to said frame means, said flexible material and saidframe means defining closed back and opposite side portions and aclosable front and top portion.
 3. The portable blind of claim 2 whereinsaid closable front and top portions have quick releasable means thereonfor quickly opening said top portion and at least a portion of saidfront portion.
 4. A portable blind comprising, a frame means comprisingfirst and second normally horizontally spaced apart frames, blindmaterial on said frame means defining opposite side blind portions, aback blind portion and a front blind portion, said front blind portionbeing selectively closable to permit ingress into and egress out of saidblind, means on said front blind portion for quickly opening at least aportion of said front blind portion to permit the hunter to shoot fromthe blind, said front blind portion comprising a pair of closable flapmembers at its lower end and a slidable top portion slidably mounted onsaid frame means and moveable between closed and opened positions onsaid frame means.
 5. The portable blind of claim 4 wherein said slidabletop portion has resilient means secured thereto which yieldably resiststhe closing of said top portion and which causes said top portion toquickly move to its open position at times.
 6. The portable blind ofclaim 5 wherein the upper ends of said closable flap members haveregistering grommets provided Thereon, an arcuate hook means on said topportions adapted to be connected to said grommets, the engagement ofsaid hook means with said grommets maintaining said flap members andsaid top portion in their closed position.
 7. A portable blindcomprising, a frame means comprising first and second normallyhorizontally spaced apart frames, blind material on said frame meansdefining opposite side blind portions, a back blind portion and a frontblind portion, means on said front blind portion for quickly opening atleast a portion of said front blind portion to permit the hunter toshoot from the blind, said front blind portion comprising a slidable topportion slidably mounted on said frame means and moveable between closedand opened positions on said frame means, said slidable top portionhaving resilient means secured thereto which causes said top portion toquickly move to its open position.
 8. A portable blind comprising, acollapsible frame means comprising first and second normallyhorizontally spaced apart frames, support means secured to and extendingbetween said first and second frames to maintain said frames in theirspaced apart relationship, means on said frame means for supportingblind material thereon, said frames being movable from a normallyassembled position to a folded position, said frames being sufficientlyspaced apart to permit a person to position himself therebetween whensaid frames are in their assembled position, said frames having avertical height greater than the height of a person in a sittingposition, each of said frames comprising a bottom frame member havingopposite ends, a normally upstanding back frame member pivotallyconnected at its lower end to one end of each bottom frame member, aninclined front frame member having upper and lower ends; each of saidinclined front frame members comprising upper and lower frame memberportions, said upper frame member portions being pivotally connected attheir upper ends to the upper end of said back frame member, said lowerframe member portions being pivotally connected at their lower ends tothe other end of said bottom frame member, and means selectivelyconnecting the upper ends of said lower frame member portions to thelower ends of said upper frame member portions to maintain the same insubstantial alignment when said frames are in their assembled position.9. The portable blind of claim 8 wherein said means selectivelyconnecting the upper ends of said lower frame members portions to thelower ends of said upper frame members portions comprises a sleeve meansslidably mounted thereon and extending therebetween.
 10. The portableblind of claim 8 wherein a foldable seat is secured to said back framemembers and is positioned therebetween, said foldable seat comprising afirst support member secured to and extending between said back framemembers above the lower ends thereof; a U-shaped support memberpivotally operatively connected at its ends to the lower ends of saidback frame members; and a flexible member secured to said first supportmember and said U-shaped support member and extending therebetween.